Cheap Parts -Debate

[mkiiSupraMan18]

Don't know how long it will be good...... but just wondering what everyone's thoughts on Autozone and OEM parts was.....

I'd go into more detail, but I'm gonna be late for school..... lol

 

[drunk_medic]

OEM is more expensive and lasts longer. You get what you pay for. Let's say you buy an OEM alternator and do the labor on your own - it just might be worth it. I've had 3 bad alternators from cheap parts stores before. I don't think I'll ever make that mistake again.

Then again, some "hard parts" can get really expensive, and are simple to rebuild for the cheaper sources. One example in my past is a brake caliper.

 

[Supra Blues]

Anything that is a critical component of keeping the Supra running and on the road, buy the best parts you can afford.

Other stuff is less important, so cheaper, is acceptable.

 

[lanky189]

Firsthand Retail Experience- The parts we sell at discount auto parts stores are remanufactured, unless noted otherwise, The reman process uses the casings (starter/alt/rack/caliper/master cylinder/ etc) the stress holding parts and the moving parts are replaced...new brushes new stators new voltage regulators etc.

That being said, I have found that the Import hard parts we sell tend to be returned just as much as the domestic parts..
Alot of this can be blamed on installer problems, (for instance Bubba joe taking the positive cable off his battery when he's done installing his alt. on his 99 ford pickup, only problem is that can fry the internals of a computer controlled alternator such as this. )
Alot of times the problem IS manufacterer defect, and that's why the lifetime warranty is helpful, sure its no fun having to replace the part again, but its better than payin for it again. I've had a few customers say they went with a Toyota alternator..and after a year... it was shot.. so no warranty there...they were out alot of money.

I can't really say i feel one way or another, it certainly is a polarized topic. There are some parts that I will buy toyota..others i will use off the shelf brands. Starters/Alts..i have no problem going to a Retail Store..i know the warranty system and I test the equipment before it leaves the store... (btw..always ask them to do this.. sure you may get a wierd look, but be sure to thank the parts person afterwards.. we don't mind the extra work for a customer that really shows they appreciate our compliance and efforts)

I will list the things I will only get from toyota:
Water Pump - trust me on this one.
Gasket- except head gasket.. all others are better quality fit better material, felpro is nice, but Victor Reinz.. way better if you can get that.

The rest of the stuff available at the retail stores is engineered, re-engineered to meet or exceed OE quality..and it does for the most part.



Btw...please, all of you that read this...do me and every parts guy out there a huge favor.
Two Things:
1. Know your vehicle and its engine size/trans codes. It will save us/you lots of time and hassle, also be sure to speak in an easy to understand pace, spitting out 87supraturbo as fast as you can is great at the Supra meets, but at the parts store we hafta shift from old fords to new chevy's to nissans to toyota's all day long..give us a second to catch up. Don't list 18 parts you need befoer you tell us the vehicle..thats retarded.

2. Don't take it out on us when your alternator does fail. I understand you'll be upset..I get pissed too..but we don't MAKE THE ALTERNATOR! we sell it...after our buyers...BUY THEM... we'll do our best to make your situation better..and don't assume the guy behind the counter is tryin to call you a bad mechanic or say you're wrong if he starts to question you on things about the situation involving the failure..there may be things you miss or didn't think of, trust me..even the master technicians over look things


that being said... Shop Advance auto.. .autozone suxorz

 

[Supra Blues]

Lanky,

You're the parts guy behind the counter. Aren't you supposed to know what engine is in my 91 Ford Explorer or my old 84 Camero or whether it is a turbo or not or.......... :icon_smil

Really though, everytime I go the parts counter I know exactly what I need and at least two words of what it may be called.

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

... Shop Advance auto.. .autozone suxorz

Couldn't agree more, although Autozone doesn't throw a fit when you try to get something that you have a receipt saying it's a lifetime warranty, and the bastards telling me it's 90 days..... what a crock, anyway, I got the clutch, but Autozone on the other hand, I just called them up and told them I had a lifetime clutch, it was there the next day, no probs asked. However, Advance gets parts right 90% of the time, where-as Autozone is somewhere in the low-to-mid-50's......

And about Lanky's response to the Alt problem......... what is so bad about taking 15 mins to change out an alt for FREE (and a lot cheaper to begin with) rather than going to Toyota to get another one for a lot more...... We'll say a lifetime alt is somewhere around.... $90 at Advance, what will that cost from Toyota? Not being an ass, I am really curious what the price diff is to see if it MIGHT be possible to just go Toyota for the replacement......

I think this could be a good debate for awhile, just don't make Lanky add it to his debates gone to shit thread.... :icon_conf

*Edit*
This is the thread that got me going on this....
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5969

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Matt you should know if you can't get OEM go with what napa has to offer. They are the best I have found, even if they are a little more expensive than the other guys.

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

psshhh...... if I was gonna pay more than advance, I probably would just go OEM, stuff at NAPA is stupid exspensive, or atleast everything I priced..... $350-ish for a head gasket set, suck my balls $350........ I found one at Columbus import for like.. $140, and it was there the next day... I'm pretty much gonna start shopping there, I'm pretty sure he does the Aisin thing, or the clutches I was looking it were ALL aisin, so I assume that would be pretty much OEM.

 

[lanky189]

Matt you should know if you can't get OEM go with what napa has to offer. They are the best I have found, even if they are a little more expensive than the other guys.

Napa's Import rotating electrical = Worldwide
Advance's Import Rotating electrical = Worldwide

same products...as far as alts/starters go

 

[lanky189]

Couldn't agree more, although Autozone doesn't throw a fit when you try to get something that you have a receipt saying it's a lifetime warranty, and the bastards telling me it's 90 days..... what a crock, anyway, I got the clutch, but Autozone on the other hand, I just called them up and told them I had a lifetime clutch, it was there the next day, no probs asked. However, Advance gets parts right 90% of the time, where-as Autozone is somewhere in the low-to-mid-50's......

And about Lanky's response to the Alt problem......... what is so bad about taking 15 mins to change out an alt for FREE (and a lot cheaper to begin with) rather than going to Toyota to get another one for a lot more...... We'll say a lifetime alt is somewhere around.... $90 at Advance, what will that cost from Toyota? Not being an ass, I am really curious what the price diff is to see if it MIGHT be possible to just go Toyota for the replacement......

I think this could be a good debate for awhile, just don't make Lanky add it to his debates gone to shit thread.... :icon_conf

*Edit*
This is the thread that got me going on this....
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5969

The warranty on clutches has changed from lifetime to 1 year... 90 days on performance stuff.

i dont know the price toyota gets for an alt for say an 87 but i know advance is 89 bucks or so.


Also...as far as parts people knowing whats in YOUR car (yes i understand your joking..but this is a problem that makes people thing our parts are bad)
People come in asking for oil filters and so on all the time.. say for an 94 firebird.. well theres a 4cyl, 6cyl and 8 cyl options how am i to know? the filters are different....